UK & World News

Missing Ashya: Videos Reveal Fight For Life

Ashya King's fight for life after being diagnosed with a brain tumour has been chronicled in a series of poignant videos filmed by his brother.

One video shows Ashya in hospital while another includes a message assuring the boy: "Everyone is praying for you. We just want to see your smile again."

The posts were uploaded to Facebook and YouTube by Ashya's brother Naveed, after the brain tumour diagnosis was made by doctors.

Speaking into the camera in a message directly to Ashya, he said: "I haven't slept. I've been awake all night worrying.

"We love you so much. We're all here for you.

"Everyone is praying for you. We just want to see your smile again. No kid at the age of five deserves to have a brain tumour.

"Let's just hope the doctors know what they're doing and they know exactly where to operate and what to take out, and they take everything out and you can be better.

"And when we look back in 10 years' time when you're 15, we can actually see that things have changed for the better.

"Just because they're bad at one point doesn't mean they'll always be bad. I love you so much. I can't wait to see you."

Police have launched a "major investigation" to find Ashya who was taken from Southampton General Hospital to France against medical advice.

In other videos - which Sky News has chosen not to show - Ashya is clearly in distress as he undergoes treatment for his condition.

On August 18 Naveed posted an update on Facebook signed "King family", saying Ashya had been "progressing slowly".

The post included several pictures, one showing Ashya with his mother, and another of a large stitched wound at the back of the boy's head and neck.

Naveed wrote: "He (Ashya) is now able to swallow (only liquid things like water and on odd occasions soft yoghurt) but not chew or move his leaps (sic).

"He can also close his eye lids but still struggles in moving his eyes to look at people or things.

"He is still unable to talk to explain how he feels or what may be hurting him on occasions.

"As a family we thank everyone who has taken their time in prayer for Ashya to get better and also by the amazing gifts he has received from those prayers!

"He is still far from being a normal child and still not out of the danger zone of where minor issues could cause severe problems for his brain, so please continue to pray for him to have the strength and to be able to recuperate quickly!"

In another YouTube video posted earlier this month, Naveed said his family had been staying in a "charity home" and he was visiting his brother twice a day in hospital.

He said Ashya was struggling to move his legs and arms or swallow food and had only recently been able to close his eyelids.

"He's progressing slowly," Naveed said.

"It still might be a couple of weeks before he can maybe move an arm or two and might be a couple of months before he can walk."